McFadden wants to run over Steelers

Darren McFadden’s dad told him there would be days like Sunday. Against physical defenses like the Steelers … and he didn’t tell his son to juke anybody.
“My dad always told me to go out and punish the tackler,” the Raiders running back said Friday. “It’s something that always sticks in my mind when I’m running.”
Pittsburgh has a similar plan on offense now that 6-foot-1, 230-pound rookie running back Le’Veon Bell is coming on in his three games back from a foot injury. He gained 93 yards on 19 carries last week, surpassing his total of 91 entering the game.
The Steelers “run the ball at you — at the defense —for positive yards,” Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said. “He’s a big back, and he can get positive yards.”
McFadden, overcoming a hamstring injury, has been held to 90 yards on 33 carries in his last three games since gaining 129 on 19 carries during a 19-9 win over Jacksonville on Sept. 15. But after a bye week, he is “feeling as good as you can this time of year,” McFadden said, and he is ready for Pittsburgh.
He had 113 yards in a home win over the Steelers last season, and is looking for more of the same.
“They’ll play physical, but a physical game fits my style,” McFadden said. “It’s always good. I love running against a physical team. You want to be able to go out and show what you can do. …
“I am a straight ahead guy, I am not a shaker or anything like that. I’ll put a move on here and there, but for the most part I am straight ahead.”
The 2-4 Raiders did a lot of self-scouting over the bye week, and offensive coordinator Greg Olson like what he saw from the running game, and more so what he thinks he is about to see.
“Adapting to our quarterback run package, I think is difficult to defend,” Olson said. “What we’ve done with Terrelle Pryor, I think that’s been good to us. I think our (power) gap scheme at times has been good We like what we’re doing there, we just have to become more consistent.”
The Steelers rank 19th in the NFL against the run, allowing 109.3 yards per game, but have been coming on the last two weeks. After allowing 27.5 points per game while going winless in September, Pittsburgh (2-4) has yielded 22 total in consecutive victories over the Jets and the Ravens.
The Steelers have also turned the corner offensively, running for a season-high 141 yards against Baltimore after only averaging 61 yards the first five games.
“(Bell’s) got good patience,” Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “He’s got good vision, strength. He can run people over. We’ve yet to see the speed. I’m excited and hopeful that soon he’s going to get a breakaway run so we can see what kind of speed he has.
“It’s been good to have that threat back there.”
Briefly: Raiders right tackle Tony Pashos (hip), guard Andre Gurode (knee) and tackle Menelik Watson (knee) didn’t practice again Friday and are likely out for Sunday’s game. Center Stefen Wisniewski is back from a knee injury, allowing Mike Brisiel to return to right guard. … Roethlisberger, on the 10 new starters on Oakland’s: “High motors, that’s the biggest thing you see. You see high energy, high motor, very aware.”